Here we go again -- good luck, I'll sign (again)

We are not living in Puritan times...let's get real and stop "forbidding" people to buy essentials.

This antiquainted law is on its way out.

How do we sign it? I'm in!

If they are not repealed some other location will just receive the revenue stream...2 + 2 =4, Duh. Wake the hell up.

Not true. Many of the Paramus stores are their chains' best performing locations. Blue laws don't have much effect on revenue, just make for very busy Saturdays. But repeal of blue laws would adversely effect retail workers.

I think it's time to end the blue law many towns want it ended and those who don't need to get with the times.

I work retail in Bergen County and am thankful for the blue law so I don't have to work on Sundays. It's also wonderful to be able to travel within the County without the shopping traffic. We are surrounded by counties where there is ample shopping for those of you who must get your shopping fix. I say KEEP THE BLUE LAW.

Except for the color of a license plate, one can't tell where a car is coming from and there is no way to tell if someone is just passing thru Bergen County or visit a friend or relative. Perhaps the heavy traffic on Saturday is because Sunday non-Bergen resident shoppers have to come on Saturday. If the stores were open on Sundays perhaps traffic would flow well on both days.
Employees who now work 5 days can work six to get extra income. Those who are required to work Sundays get a midweek day off. That can be nice. It works out all over NJ and all over the country.
Finally, be careful who you call "traffic". It is a very subjective term. From your car, my (small) car looks like traffic but from my car your SUV is the traffic.

I would certainly sign such a petition. Half the reason Teaneck's Cedar Lane is dying is because stores can't stay open on Sunday in a town that doesn't do much business on Saturday because of the local populace. I shopped on the Sunday the stores were open after Sandy and the world didn't end and traffic was not a nightmare. The county loses a ridiclous amount of revenue to other places on Sunday--why should workers who can only shop on weekends because of their jobs be forced to travel to get what they need?

Though I wish her luck, a referendum will probably fail. 20 years ago only 36% voted for the referendum. The population of Bergen County has not changed enough in 20 years to expect a referendum to succeed.

A more likely path to success would be a legislative change to allow referendum's by town rather than by county. Unfortunately this idea has also always met significant opposition in the state legislature.

The County Blue Law restrictions are discriminatory, counter-productive to economic and community livlihood, and represents governmental regulation at its most absurd. Residents of the County must not permit Paramus, with its obsolete and unsustainable commercial sprawl to continue to dictate regional policy, much like the tail that wags the dog. We must work for the complete abolition of these restrictions, to strengthen and revitalize communities with traditional downtowns like Teaneck, Hackensack, and Englewood.

Let Paramus have its Blue Laws and allow the other towns of Bergen County to repeal them.

Nope. I'm not signing anything, and I will vote against any politician who supports such. I live in Teaneck, and like the law as it stands.

If the Blue Law changed tomorrow, Cedar Lane would still have today's issue: Not a lot of people want to go there! Be it Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, or Sunday. I have no restriction on when I can shop, but I avoid Cedar Lane like the plague. But, this issue has been debated ad nauseam on this very site. I shall not rehash.

Where do people sign?

My husband & I are two people who will not sign. My husband's in retail and it's nice to know that he will be home with our family every Sunday instead of going to work. Like someone else said you have 6 other days of the week to go out to the store and get what you need. It was different after Hurricane Sandy but even then you had retailers who couldn't get to their stores or they had no power. KEEP THE BLUE LAWS-if you don't like the blue law then go somewhere else on Sunday to shop.

My husband & I are two people who will not sign. My husband's in retail and it's nice to know that he will be home with our family every Sunday instead of going to work. Like someone else said you have 6 other days of the week to go out to the store and get what you need. It was different after Hurricane Sandy but even then you had retailers who couldn't get to their stores or they had no power. KEEP THE BLUE LAWS-if you don't like the blue law then go somewhere else on Sunday to shop.

how do we sign in ..

Rosemary Shashoua tells our Westwood editor that there's no petition online, but anyone interested should email her at rozette@yahoo.com.

I have no issue with repealing the blue laws. They are antiquated and no longer serve the purpose of their original intent. If it can't be done county wide due to Paramus larger voting pool than let each town decide. Paramus can choose to keep their blue law if that works best for them.

For those saying you have 6 other days in a week to shop, you have 6 other days in the week to utilize as your day off from work.

Some interesting media coverage on this topic -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xk6yNY4cHAA

As an Orthodox Jew living in Teaneck; I fully support the blue laws, and they are the main reason I looked forward to move to Bergen County from New York.

It's an important day because I could drive to my local synagogue, and grocery stores without being stuck on congested roads. There are plenty of time and hours to shop rest of the week. Nobody is in need of shopping on Sundays. If anyone is really in need, Wayne and Paterson is only 15 min away. I have friends from Paterson who come and work in Bergen County because they get Sundays off. I feel bad for them, because they need the day off to spend with their family.

Even here in Teaneck, Sunday is a day many of us love because we know there's no traffic and noise.

The Blue Laws are VERRY confusing. BJ's jewelry counter is open on sunday. Shop-rite sells socks and underwear. Perhaps the rest of the week would not be so busy if the shopping was spread out over 7 days rather than 6. Perhaps residents should think of the traffic before they allow yet another mall in Paramus. NONETHELESS, blue laws dont make sense especially when parts of an open store are roped off. Paramus may even get sued by a store that is not permitted to open that sells the same thing that a store that is permitted to open. Crazy crazy application of an antiquated law.